Principal's Friday MessageErika Gundersen, Principal, I.A.

This may have been a short week with just 3 school days but we managed to squeeze a lot of activity into that time.

The book fair finished up on Monday. Thanks to the PTA for hosting and to all those that made purchases.

We held our 5th fire drill of the school year. The students and teachers did a great job!

Our Pre-k classes hosted their annual Thanksgiving luncheon for parents on Wednesday and our kindergarten classes welcomed parents for an afternoon Thanksgiving snack. First and second grade classes held small in-class celebrations and our third graders worked on a math related Thanksgiving craft. Fourth graders collected canned goods and donated them to Trinity Rescue and food pantry and our fifth grade students worked on a unit in which they planned and budgeted for a Thanksgiving celebration in class with their families. Students were hands-on; They decorated for the event. They acted as servers, and even cleaned up when the celebration ended. Students showed off their math skills and shared a tasty meal with family and friends.

As you know, school will be closed on Thursday 11/22 and Friday 11/23 for Thanksgiving. As reported in last week’s notes, the long thanksgiving weekend will be a “no homework” weekend. For parents or students eager to keep up with their skills, I hope you take advantage of our website… www.PS172.org. Simply open up the “academics” tab, click on your child’s grade level and look for “student links”. We continue to update the site, so please check in often.

Important dates coming up…

Photo re-takes will be on Monday 11/26

School leadership team meeting on 11/27 @ 5pm

PTA meeting on 11/27 at 6:30pm

Parents as Learning Partners will take place on Friday Nov. 30th. Please look for an invitation to the event in your child’s book bag on Wed. (11/28) or Thursday (11/29). ***The invitation will include 2 visitor stickers. We ask that any guests attending the learning partner event, wear the sticker to fast track entrance into the school building. Guests not wearing a sticker, must produce identification and check in at the front desk.

PS 172 honor roll recipients will be presented with their certificates at our Parents as Learning Partner event on Friday 11/30.

Since Thanksgiving is a holiday based on the concept of gratitude, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for PS 172’s parents, students, teachers and staff. Your generosity and sense of community make PS 172 a unique and wonderful place for children to grow and learn. I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!